Women less likely than men to undergo surgery for retinal detachments

Women are less likely than men to receive surgical intervention for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD), according to a study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. An additional 781 women a year would receive surgery per year if the odds were equal between women and men.

In this retrospective cohort study, 61,071 cases of RRD identified from insurance claims were included. After adjusting for confounders, women—who made up 43% of cases—had 34% reduced odds of undergoing surgical repair for an RRD.

In addition, even when receiving repair, women were more often delayed, and were more likely than men to undergo primary laser barricade, scleral buckle, and pneumatic retinopexy.

Reoperation odds were lower in women.

Reference

Callaway NF, Vail D, Al-Maujahed A, et al. Sex differences in the repair of retinal detachments in the United States. Am J Opthalmol. 2020; DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2020.06.039